71 


V 


SKATED  D£SCfi/Pr% 


OF  TUB 


BROADWAY 


Underer omul  Eailwa 


WITH 


Explanatory  Details  and  Engravings 


OY  TJiK 


ATMOSPHERIC    MACHINERY,    PNEUMATIC  PASSENGER-CAR, 
PNEUMATIC  POSTAL  DISPATCH,  UNDERGROUND 
TUNNELING  MACHINE,  ETC. 


NEW-YORK  : 

^  PUBLISHED  BY  THE  BEACH  PNEUMATIC  TRANSIT  CO. 


s 


•ft 


4 


S.  W.  Green,  Print  er,  16  and.18  Jacob  Street,  New-York 


THE  CHAMPION  SPRING  BED. 

From  Scientific  American,  Nov.  4,  1871. 

The  sum  total  of  human  experience  on  the  subject  shows  that  the  bed 
question  is  one  of  great  importance  to  every  body,  and  that  upon  the  wisdom 
of  one's  choice  of  bedding  material  depends  much  of  comfort,  health,  and 
even  the  prolongation  of  life.  A  badly  composed  bed  is  too  often  but  the 
breeding-place  of  contagion  and  disease. 

Good  feathers  and  curled  hair,  in  abundant  quantities,  make  good  beds  ; 
but  their  organic  substance  renders  them  unhealthy,  and  the  best  medical 
authorities  discourage  their  use.  A  capital  substitute  for  them  has  been 
found  in  the  elastic  properties  of  metals,  and  the  subject  of  our  illustration  is 
the  very  latest  improvement  in  this  line — the  Champion  Spring  Bed — which 
rivals  in  its  softness  the  old-fashioned  down  and  hair,  embodying,  likewise, 
all  the  good  qualities  that  experience  has  shown  to  be  desirable. 

This  bed  is  composed  of  eighty-eight  beautiful  steel  springs,  comprising 
over  eight  hundred  coils,  drawn  and  tempered  with  accuracy,  yielding  and 
pliable  like  watch-springs,  the  helices  united  by  leather  bands,  and  the  whole 
so  arranged  that  pressure,  applied  upon  any  one  portion  of  the  surface  of  the 
bed,  is  equally  distributed  and  sustained  by  all  of  the  springs.  This  imparts 
to  the  bed  an  even  elasticity  and  general  softness,  which  is  a  peculiar  cha- 
racteristic, preventing  that  sinking  down  of  the  bed  in  one  spot,  and  that 
down-hill  feeling  of  the  surface,  or  sloping  toward  the  place  where  the 
greatest  weight  rests — defects  that  are  common  to  most  of  the  ordinary 
spring  beds. 

Another  striking  advantage  of  this  bed  is  its  remarkable  flexibility.  As 
shown  in  our  engraving,  it  may  be  rolled  up  like  a  blanket,  forming  a  con- 
venient package  for  transportation  ;  and  it  may  be  lifted,  turned,  and  carried 
about  the  household  with  the  \itmost  facility. 

Its  extreme  lightness  is  a  distinctive  and  important  quality,  the  total 
weight  of  a  first-class  double  bed  being  only  25  lbs.  A  child  may  carry  it  ; 
any  woman  may  lift  it  with  one  hand.  Housekeepers  will  appreciate  this 
quality,  for  they  can  remove  and  place  the  bed  wherever  they  require,  as 
easily  as  if  it  were  a  bolster. 

Another  excellent  feature  is  its  perfect  security  against  corrosion,  the 
Springs  being  inlaid  with  a  firm  water-proof  fire  enamel,  which  renders  the 
bed  serviceable  in  any  climate,  hot  or  cold,  dry  or  damp. 

Both  sides  of  the  bed  are  alike,  it  can  be  used  either  side  up,  has  no 
attached  frame  of  wood  or  slats,  but  is  soft,  yielding,  and  flexible  in  every 
part.  In  summer-time  it  forms  a  cool  and  luxurious  couch  ;  no  under-bed  be- 
ing required,  a  blanket  thrown  over  its  surface  being  sufficient.  In  cold 
weather,  a  mattress  of  only  half  the  usual  thickness  is  needed. 

This  bed  is  noiseless  and  durable.  It  is  also  economical  in  price,  the  full  - 
sized  double  beds  of  this  pattern  being  retailed  at  $12 — the  smaller  sizes  for 
less.  Rolled  up  for  transport,  as  shown  in  our  engraving,  it  forms  a  light, 
compact  bundle  of  steel  springs,  which  may  be  sent  to  any  part  of  the  world 
without  risk  of  damage.  Such  are  some  of  the  merits  of  this  invention,  as 
claimed  by  the  makers,  and  they  appear  to  be  well  founded.  [See  engraving 
on  next  page  of  cover.] 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


-t '  'Tort  nteuw  isim/terdam,  oj>  Je  Madia-tans 


FORT   NEW  AMSTERDAM 


(NEW  YORK),  1651. 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Sver'thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 


OF  THE 

BROADWAY  UNDERGROUND  RAILWAY, 

iEOLOR,  TUNNELING-MACHINE,  ATMOSPHERIC  CARS,  PNEUMATIC  POSTAL 

DISPATCH,  ETC.,  ETC. 


The  present  experimental  section  of  the  Broadway  Under- 
ground Railway  was  constructed  by  the  Beach  Pneumatic  Transit 
Company,  under  the  provisions  of  their  charters  of  1868  and  1869, 
giving  them  authority  to  convey  letters,  parcels,  and  merchandise 
through  tubes  not  to  exceed  fifty-four  inches  mean  interior  dia- 
meter.   It  was  ascertained  by  the  company,  alter  careful  investi- 
gation, that  the  cost  of  laying  down  two  tubes  of  the  above  size, 
constructed  together,  would  be  but  little  more  than  that  of 
building  a  single  tube.    It  was  also  ascertained  that  the  quickest 
and  best  method  of  construction  for  the  two  tubes  was  to  bore 
under  the  streets,  below  the  water-pipes  and  sewers,  and  erect  a 
masonry  shell  or  tunnel  large  enough  to  inclose  both  of  the  fifty- 
four-inch  tubes.    It  is  a  portion  of  this  outer  tunnel  that  has 
been  erected  ;  and  as  it  proved  to  be  strong  enough  and  large 
enough  for  the  transit  of  passengers,  the  company  laid  down 
therein  a  railway  track  and  provided  a  passenger  car,  for  the 
purpose  of  temporarily  illustrating,  by  an  actual  demonstration, 
the  feasibility  of  placing  a  railway  under  Broadway,  without 
disturbance  of  the  street  surface  or  injury  to  adjacent  property. 

This  experimental  section  of  railway  passes  below  the  founda- 
tions of  some  of  the  heaviest  buildings;  and  although  constructed 
upon  a  reduced  scale,  it  has  proved  to  be  large  enough  to  show, 
beyond  question,  that  a  first-class,  double  track,  passenger 


0 


RAILWAY  MAY  BE  READILY  CONSTRUCTED  BY  THIS  COMPANY,  EX- 
TENDING fro^i  the  Battery  under  Broadway  to  Central 
Park  and  Manhattanville  ;  with  branch  at  Union  Square, 

EXTENDING  UNDER  FOURTH  AVENUE  TO  HaRLEM  ElYER. 

By  the  construction  of  this  railway  our  citizens  will  be  enabled 
to  travel  between  the  City  Hall  and  Central  Park,  West  side 
and  Harlem  River,  in  fifteen  minutes,  riding  in  comfortable  cars 
brilliantly  lighted  with  gas. 

The  company  only  wait  the  grant  of  proper  legislative  authority 
in  order  to  proceed  with  this  great  and  important  work.  The 
company's  application  to  the  Legislature  is  supported  by  large 
numbers  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  New- York,  while 
their  routes  and  plans  are  approved  by  the  most  eminent  archi- 
tects, civil  engineers,  and  railway  constructors. 

ENTRANCE  AND  TICKET- OFFICE. 

The  present  entrance  to  the  Underground  Railway  is  on  the 
west  side  of  Broadway,  opposite  the  City  Hall,  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Broadway  and  Warren  streets,  through  the  base- 
ment of  Devlin's  building. 

Descending  a  few  steps  from  the  sidewalk,  the  visitor  enters 
the  ticket-office,  where  the  attention  is  at  once  arrested  by  the 
aeolor  or  blowing-engine,  which  generates  the  air-blast  by  which 
the  pneumatic  cars  are  propelled. 

This  immense  a?olor  is  by  far  the  largest  machine  of  the  kind 
ever  made.  It  consists  of  a  great  shell  of  strong  iron,  21^  feet 
high,  16  feet  long,  and  13  feet  wide,  containing  two  pairs  of 
massive  wings,  geared  together  by  cog-wheels,  and  so  arranged 
that  the  air  is  drawn  in  upon  one  side  of  the  machine,  carried 
through  between  the  wings,  and  forced  out  on  the  other  side. 

The  seolor  is  capable  of  discharging  over  100,000  cubic  feet  of 
air  per  minute.  The  machine  makes  60  revolutions  per  minute, 
and  discharges  the  air  through  an  opening  *5  feet  square  with  a 
velocity  of  60  miles  per  hour. 

The  upper  portion  of  the  seolor,  as  seen  in  the  ticket-office,  is 
beautifully  decorated,  and  j^'esents  no  outward  indication  of 
being  the  great  reservoir  of  power  we  have  just  described.  To 


• ) 

o 


realize  this  fact,  we  must  go  down-stairs  and  look  within  its 
rapacious  mouths. 

Leaving  the  ticket-office,  and  passing  the  oeolor  on  the  left,  we 
enter  the 

WAITING-ROOM  OF  THE  BROADWAY  UNDERGROUND  RAILWAY. 

This  is  a  large  and  elegantly  finished  apartment,  commencing 


INTERIOR  OF  THE  ..PNEUMATIC  -PASSENGER-CAR. 


4 


at  Broadway  and  extending  down  Warren  street  for  a  distance 
of  120  feet,  built  wholly  under  ground.  The  walls  are  adorned 
with  interesting  pictures,  while  comfortable  settees,  saloons  for 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  other  furnishings,  render  the  place  at 
once  cheerful  and  attractive. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  waiting-room  we  descend  a  half-dozen 
steps,  and  find  ourselves  upon  the  railway  platform,  near  the 
portal  of  the  tunnel,  and  at  the  door  of 

THE  PNEUMATIC  PASSENGER-CAR. 

One  of  our  views  shows  the  interior  of  the  car.  It  is  of  cir- 
cular form,  brilliantly  lighted,  and  very  comfortable,  with  seats 
for  22  persons. 

-  The  wheels  of  the  pneumatic  car  are  provided  with  separate 
axles  and  springs.  The  general  construction  is  such  that  the 
floor  of  the  car  stands  below  the  axle  centres,  an  arrangement 
which  tends  to  produce  steadiness  of  motion  and  security  from 
accident.  Powerful  brakes  are  placed  at  eacli  end  of  the  car,  so 
made  that  the  brake-shoes  press  upon  a  central  rail,  laid  on  the 
floor  of  the  tunnel,  and  thus  quickly  bring  the  car  to  a  halt. 

One  of  the  advantages  of  the  Pneumatic  Railway  for  city 
transit  is,  that  the  cars  may  be  run  either  singly  or  in  trains, 
without  additional  machinery  or  cost.  The  more  frequently  the 
cars  run  the  better  are  the  public  accommodated.  On  ordinary 
steam  roads,  if  the  cars  are  sent  singly,  a  locomotive  must  accom- 
pany each  car,  which  would  be  expensive ;  hence,  the  practice 
is  to  run  the  cars  in  trains.  It  is  probable  that  pneumatic  cars 
could,  for  the  same  expense,  be  dispatched  through  a  Broadway 
tunnel  much  oftener  than  locomotive  trains  could  be  run. 

THE  TUNNEL  UNDER  BROADWAY, 

the  portal  of  which,  massive  and  ornamental,  of  circular  form, 
stands  before  us  as  we  face  the  east. 

We  will  follow  the  railway  track  into  the  tunnel,  and  explore 
the  underground  mysteries  of  Broadway.  The  rumbling  noise 
of  the  vehicles  which  pass  in  endless  procession,  directly  over 
our  heads,  can  be  distinctly  heard. 

The  tunnel  commences  at  the  curb-line  of  Broadway,  and 


5 


sweeps  on  a  graceful  curve  a  little  beyond  the  centre  line  of  the 
street;  thence  on  a  straight  line  down  Broadway  to  a  point  a 
little  beyond  the  south  side  of  Murray  street.  The  bed  of  the 
tunnel  is  2 If  feet  below  the  pavement.  The  interior  is  painted 
white ;  it  is  lighted  with  gas ;  the  atmosphere  is  pure,  and  a 


PORTAL  OF  THE  BROADWAY  TUNNEL. 


walk  through  it  will  be  found  interesting  and  instructive.  The 
length  of  the  tunnel  is  312  feet,  of  which  the  curved  portion, 
60  feet,  is  built  of  iron  plates,  the  interior  diameter  being  9  feet. 


6 


Standing  upon  the  track  platform,  at  a  little  distance  from  the 
tunnel,  and  looking  within  the  portal,  the  iron  walls,  with  their 
net-work  of  gracefully  curved  ribs,  present  a  very  pleasing 
appearance.  This  method  of  erecting  iron  tunnels  is  the  inven- 
tion of  Mr.  Joseph  Dixon,  the  secretary  of  the  company,  long 
known  for  his  persevering  efforts  to  establish  the  underground 
railway  in  New-York. 

The  iron  track,  of  the  usual  T  pattern,  rests  upon  longitudinal 
beams  of  wood,  secured  to  the  brick  walls,  and  fastened  cross- 
wise at  intervals  bv  flat  oirders  of  cast-iron. 

In  summer  time,  the  tunnel  is  the  coolest  place  in  the  city. 
When  the  thermometer  stands  at  95°  at  the  surface  of  the  street, 
it  indicates  only  65°  in  the  tunnel.  In  winter,  the  temperature 
in  the  tunnel  is  usually  warmer  than  the  external  air. 

Telegraph  wires  extend  along  the  walls  of  the  tunnel,  which 
are  so  arranged  in  connection  with  the  track  that  the  wheels  of 
the  car,  when  ihe  latter  reaches  the  ends  of  the  tunnel,  send  back 
a  telegraphic  signal  to  the  engineer,  who  shifts  an  air-valve, 
which  reverses  the  air-current  and  causes  the  car  to  move  back 
to  its  starting-place.  Proceeding  down  Broadway  to  the  end  of 
.the  tunnel  at  Murray  street,  we  come  to  the 

GREAT  TUNNELING  MACHINE  OR  SHIELD, 

by  which  Broadway  was  bored  without  any  body  knowing  it, 
with  all  the  omnibuses  and  other  vehicles  traveling  directly 
above  the  heads  of  the  workmen. 

We  present  two  views  of  this  novel  mechanism,  one  of  which 
shows  the  workmen  ewgaored  in  driving  the  machine  ahead  :  the 
other,  a  perspective  interior  view,  showing  the  main  details  of 
construction.  The  machine  consists  of  a  large  cylinder,  open  at 
both  ends,  with  the  shelves  arranged  within  the  front  end  to  re- 
ceive the  earth  and  prevent  it  from  falling  too  rapidly  into  the 
front  end  of  the  machine.  X  is  the  bank  of  earth  through  which 
the  machine  is  being  pushed.  At  the  rear  of  the  machine,  placed 
around  its  periphery,  is  a  series  of  powerful  hydraulic  rams  I, 
eighteen  in  number,  all  Connected  with  a  single  water-pump  A. 
From  the  rear  of  the  machine,  and  passing  entirely  around  it,  ex- 
tends a  band  of  sheet-steel  Dv  two  feet  wide,  and  one  eighth  of 


7 


8 

an  inch  thick,  termed  the  hood.    The  brick  tunnel  W  is  erected 
within  this  hood,  which  at  all  times  covers  the  end  of  the  ma- 
sonry, and  prevents  the  earth  above  from  falling  upon  the  work- 
men. The  operation  of  the  machine  is  as  follows  :  After  a  section 
of  the  brick  tunnel  sixteen  inches  long  has  been  erected  within 
the  hood,  the  pump  is  operated,  which  causes  the  rams  I  to  slide 
out,  and  push  with  great  force  against  the  front  edge  of  the  tun- 
nel, driving  the  machine  forward  into  the  earth  X.    As  the  ma- 
chine advances,  the  earth  presses  through  between  the  shelves, 
and  falls  down  upon  the  bottom  of  the  machine,  whence  it  is  re- 
moved in  barrows  and  cars.    As  soon  as  the  machine  has  been 
advanced  sixteen  inches,  its  movement  is  stopped,  and  a  new  sec- 
tion of  the  masonry  tunnel  is  erected  within  the  hood.    The  ma- 
chine is  then  again  pushed  forward  in  the  manner  described.  By 
means  of  this  machine,  tunnels  of  all  kinds  and  sizes  may  be  quickly 
constructed  under  rivers,  also  under  the  streets  of  cities,  without 
disturbing  the  travel  of  vehicles  over  the  surface.    The  machine 
may  be  readily  moved  around  curves  or  on  grades.    By  means 
of  the  present  machine,  this  railway  tunnel  was  constructed  and 
turned  on  a  radius  of  50  feet ;  the  exterior  diameter  of  the  tunnel 
is  9  feet  4  inches.    Where  tunneling  at  any  considerable  depth 
below  the  surface  is  required,  the  use  of  this  machine  saves  a 
large  amount  of  labor.    The  first  machine  of  this  kind,  of  smaller 
dimensions,  was  put  in  operation  under  Broadway  in  1868,  and 
with  it  a  tunnel  of  some  5i  feet  in  diameter  was  constructed.  Its 
success  was  so  complete  that  tfte  company  determined  to  con- 
struct the  large  machine  shown  in  our  engravings.    The  machine 
here  illustrated  was  designed  by  Mr.  A.  E.  Beach,  of  the  Scien- 
tific American.    In  1869,  a  similar  machine  was  put  in  operation 
in  London,  and  with  it  a  tunnel  under  the  Thames  River,  known 
as  the  Tower  Subway,  was  constructed.    This  tunnel  is  1600  feet 
in  length,  extends  from  Tower  hill  to  Southwark,  and  was  con- 
structed in  less  than  eight  months  working  time. 

HOW  THE  MACHINE  AVAS  STEERED. 

The  machine  was  steered  around  the  curve  and  down  Broad- 
way by  turning  the  stop-cocks  of  the  water-pipes  belonging  to 
the  hydraulic  rams,  thus  changing  the  pressure  from  side  to  side 


9 


as  occasion  required.  During  the  [progress  of  the  work  under 
Broadway,  the  exact  course  traveled  by  the  machine  was  deter- 
mined by  compass  and  survey  in  the  usual  manner,  and  the  lines 
were  from  time  to  time  verified  by  driving  jointed  rods  of  iron 
up  through  the  roof  of  the  tunnel  to  the  pavement. 


THE  UNDERGROUND  TUNNELING-MA  CHINE. 


10 


HOW  THE  CARS  ARE  OPERATED. 

Having  presented  a  general  description  of  the  tunnel,  the  cars, 
and  the  seolor  or  blowing-machine,  we  will  now  briefly  describe 
the  manner  in  which  the  cars  are  operated.  To  do  this  intelli- 
gently, reference  should  be  made  to  the  engraving  of  the  general 
plan. 

Two  air-valves  will  be  noticed,  which  operate  in  connection 
with  the  air-passages  of  the  blower  or  seolor.  When  the  blower 
is  in  motion,  an  enormous  volume  of  air  is  driven  through  the 
tunnel,  which  drives  the  car  before  it  like  a  boat  before  the  wind. 
On  arrival  of  the  car  at  Murray  street,  the  car-Avheel  strikes  a 
telegraph  connection  and  sends  back  a  signal  to  the  engineer, 
who  shifts  the  position  of  the  two  air-valves,  thereby  reversing 
the  air-current  bv  causing  the  blower  to  suck  the  air  from  the 
tunnel,  and  to  discharge  it  into  the  area- way  of  the  building.  In 
this  process  of  suction,  the  air  is  drawn  in  through  a  tempo- 
rary ventilator  at  the  south  end  of  the  tunnel,  and  passes 
through  the  tunnel  to  the  blower  at  Warren  street,  the  pas- 
senger-car being  swept  by  the  force  of  the  current  back  to 
Warren  street,  where  the  wheel  again  strikes  the  telegraph  wire, 
gives  a  signal  to  the  engineer,  who  again  shifts  the  valves,  and 
back  the  car  moves  to  Murray  street. 

The  mouth  of  the  temporary  ventilator  is  covered  by  a  large 
iron  grating,  located  on  the  east  side  of  Broadway,  within  the 
grass-plot  inclosure  of  the  City  Hall  Park.  A  large  air-shaft, 
of  masonry,  extends  obliquely  from  the  grating,  passing  under 
the  sidewalk  and  carriage-way  to  the  south  eud  of  the  tun- 
nel,  a  distance  of  78  feet.  When  the  car  is  in  operation,  the  al- 
ternate discharge  and  suction  of  air  through  the  ventilator  is 
readily  perceived  by  persons  who  approach  near  to  the  grating. 

The  car  runs  so  easily  upon  the  track  that  only  a  few  grains  of 
atmosphere  pressure  to  the  square  inch  are  sufficient  to  move  the 
car  with  a  considerable  velocity. 

The  ride  under  Broadway  is  a  novel  and  enjoyable  experience. 
The  air  is  always  fresh  and  pure  ;  there  is  no  dust  or  other  an- 
noyance, and  the  car  moves  along  with  smoothness  and  rapidity. 

The  air  presses  directly  against  the  end  of  the  car,  like  a  sail- 


11 


WARREN  ST 


GENERAL  PLAN.  SHOWING  THE  ARRANGEMENT 
OF  THE  MACHINERY,  THE  AIR-FLUE,  THE  TUN- 
NEL, AND  THE  MODE  OF  OPERATING  THE  PNEU- 
MATIC PASSENGER  CAR. 


boat  before  the  wind.  A  car  mounted  on 
a  track  is  moved  much  easier  than  a  boat 
upon  the  water,  because  the  vessel  encoun- 
ters great  resistance  in  displacing  the  wa- 
ter, while  the  ear  merely  has  to  overcome 
the  friction  of  the  wheels,  which  is  only  one 
four  hundredth  part  of  its  weight.  There- 
fore only  a  small  air  pressure  is  required  to 
drive  the  pneumatic  car.  Many  thousands 
of  persons  have  enjoyed  the  atmospheric 
car-ride  under  Broadway,  and  the  com- 
pany's  establishment  forms  one  of  the  most 
interesting:  attractions  of  the  city. 


12 


THE  PNEUMATIC  POSTAL  DISPATCH. 

Among  other  interesting  objects  to  be  seen  at  the  Broadway 
Underground  Kail  way  Works  is  an  operating  section  of  the 
Pneumatic  Postal  Dispatch. 

This  consists  of  a  long  air-tube,  six  inches  in  diameter,  which 


13 


curves  about  in  various  directions,  in  the  sub-basement  of  the 
establishment.  A  receiving  letter-box  is  attached  to  one  end  of 
the  tube,  and  the  box  is  also  connected  with  a  blowing-wheel, 
the  arrangement  being  such  that  a  strong  suction  of  air  is  main- 
tained  through  the  tube.  If,  now,  any  letters,  etc.,  papers  or 
packages,  are  dropped  into  the  air-tube — for  which  purpose  open- 
ings are  provided — they  are  instantly  swept  along  through  the 
tube  into  the  receiving-box,  and  are  there  delivered  into  a  suit- 
able receptacle. 

•  The  practical  operation  of  this  novel  apparatus  is  very  interest- 
ing to  the  visitor.  The  receiving-box  is  provided  with  glass 
sides,  so  that  the  ingress  of  the  letters  and  papers,  as  they  come 
from  the  air-tubes,  may  be  readily  observed.  Letters  are  sent 
through  at  a  velocity  of  from  forty  to  sixty  miles  per  hour. 

These  postal  tubes  are  designed  to  be  laid  under  the  streets, 
and  to  communicate  with  the  various  lamp-post  letter-boxes  and 
postal  stations.  The  air-current  being  maintained  in  the  tubes, 
all  letters  or  packages  that  may  be  dropped  into  the  lamp-post 
boxes  will  fell  into  the  air-tube  beneath,  and  be  instantly  swept 
along  to  the  post-office  or  nearest  postal  station. 

A  complete  and  effective  system  of  pneumatic  city  postal  col- 
lection and  delivery  has  been  planned,  by  which  it  is  believed 
that  letters  may  be  sent  from  one  part  of  the  city  to  another, 
within  a  distance  of  three  miles,  in  from  five  to  ten  minutes. 
The  introduction  of  such  a  system  would  greatly  add  to  the 
convenience  of  the  public. 

THE  BROADWAY  UNDERGROUND  RAILWAY. 

The  greatest  interest  in  the  success  and  progress  of  the  work 
has  been  expressed  by  the  press  of  New- York,  Brooklyn,  and 
adjacent  places.  The  almost  universal  desire  of  the  press  and 
the  people  is,  that  the  Legislature  will  give  the  company  the 
right  to  carry  passengers,  and  thus  insure  the  speedy  extension 
of  the  Underground  Railway  through  the  whole  length  of  the 
city. 

The  route  and  plans  proposed  by  this  company  are  the  only 
ones  that  have  ever  been  generally  approved.  They  entirely 
meet  the  wants  of  the  community,  and  they  satisfy  the  best  engi 


14 


neers.  They  are  undoubtedly  the  best  plans  for  Rapid  City 
Transit  that  have  been  placed  permanently  before  the  public. 

We  might  cover  many  hundreds  of  pages  with  extracts  from 
editorials  and  reports  of  the  various  newspapers  commendatory 
of  the  Broadway  Underground  Railway,  but  our  limited  space 
permits  us  to  make  only  a  very  few  selections: 


From  Frank  Leslie's  Newspaper. 

THE  BROADWAY  PNEUMATIC  TUNNEL. 

The  series  of  engravings  pertaining  to  the  Pneumatic  Railway 
which  we  tins  week  present  illustrate  the  progress  of  a  remark- 
able work,  planned  and  executed  in  a  remarkable  manner.  Our 
great  metropolitan  thoroughfare  has  been  bored,  arched,  and  a 
track  laid  down,  by  a  corps  of  sappers  and  miners,  who  have 
operated  with  surprising  rapidity  and  success.  They  have  not 
only  tunneled  Broadway,  but  have  done  so  with  the  surging 
throne:  of  humanity,  animals,  and  vehicles  marching  in  endless 
procession  directly  above  their  spades.  No  outward  indications 
of  activity  below  the  ground  have  been  exhibited,  and,  until 
quite  recently,  the  public  has  had  no  knowledge  of  the  matter. 
The  works  are  hidden  by  the  granite  pavement  of  the  street,  and 
but  for  our  engravings,  taken  from  the  subterranean  structures 
themselves,  it  might  be  difficult  to  satisfy  our  readers  that  we 
have  above  stated  only  the  facts. 

The  Underground  Railroad,  the  highway  for  rapid  city  transit, 
long  needed  and  pressingly  demanded  by  the  inhabitants  of 
New-York,  has  at  last  been  commenced,  and  a  short  portion  has 
been  put  in  actual  operation.  We  trust  it  will  not  be  long  ere 
we  shall  be  able  to  chronicle  the  full  completion  of  the  work 
from  the  Battery  to  the  Harlem  River.  It  is  evident,  from  the 
example  now  before  us,  that  the  construction  of  an  underground 
railway  in  this  city  is  not  a  difficult  nor,  necessarily,  a  tedious 
operation.  Six  months  or  a  year's  time  is  quite  sufficient,  the 
ways  and  means  being  provided,  with  enterprising  men  as  con- 
ductors. 


15 


From  the  New- York  Evening  Mail.  Feb.  3G.  1870. 

THE  GREAT  BORE. 

COMPLETION  OF    THE   FIRST   SECTION   OF    THE   BROADWAY  UNDER- 
GROUND RAILWAY  A  GREAT  SUCCESS. 

The  problem  of  tunneling  Broadway  has  been  solved.  There 
is  no  mistake  about  it.  Even  as  we  write,  a  comfortable  passenger- 
car  is  running  smoothly  and  safely  between  Warren  and  Murray 
streets,  demonstrating  beyond  contradiction  that  it  is  only  a 
question  of  time  and  money  to  give  us  rapid  and  comfortable 
transportation  from  the  Battery  to  Harlem  and  back  again. 
Nearly  three  months  ago,  the  Evening  Mail  was  the  first  journal 
in  the  city  to  announce  the  existence  of  this  great  bore  beneath 
Broadway.  In  our  columns  were  then  described  the  progress  of 
the  work  and  enough  of  the  plans  of  the  projectors  to  give  a 
clear  idea  of  what  the  public  were  to  expect  from  them.  Since 
then  the  work  has  been  pushed  vigorously  on  by  competent 
workmen,  under  a  thoroughly  competent  superintendent,  whose 
name  is  Dixon.  May  his  shadow  increase  for  evermore  !  This 
afternoon,  pursuant  to  invitation,  the  completed  section  of  the 
work  will  be  prospected  by  the  mayor,  and  other  members  of 
the  city  government,  and  the  leading  capitalists  of  the  city;  and 
that  this  visit  will  be  followed  by  a  general  hallelujah  no  sane 
man  doubts,  who  has  sat  in  that  cozy  car  over  twenty  feet 
beneath  the  surface  of  Broadway,  and  been  whiffed  from  Murray 
street  to  Warren  before  he  had  time  to  say,  "  God  bless  you !" 
****** 

We  have  said  that  the  bed  of  the  tunnel  is  21J  feet  beneath 
the  surface  of  the  street.  It  will  then  be  understood  that  it  is 
below  both  sewers,  and  water  and  gas-pipes,  and  so  far  below 
them  as  neither  to  interfere  or  be  interfered  with. 

The  completed  section  illustrates  satisfactorily  that-  there  is 
nothing  now  to  be  done  but  give  this  company  such  a  charter  as 
will  enable  them  to  go  on  with  the  passenger-carrying  scheme. 
We  can  afford  to  wait  awhile  longer  for  the  parcel-tubes  much 
better  than  we  can  bear  the  increasing  discomforts  of  the  surface 
railroads. 

It  is  truly  most  gratifying  to  see  how  admirably  successful 


16 


the  affair  has  been  carried  out  so  far,  and  so  quietly  as  to  excite 
no  comment.  There  is  the  capacious  waiting-room,  120  feet  long, 
for  passengers,  as  perfect  in  its  appropriateness  as  if  it  had  been 
the  starting-place  for  up-town  for  a  dozen  years.  There  is  the 
snugly  upholstered  passenger-car,  illuminated  with  the  brilliant 
lime  light,  the  tunnel  nearly  300  feet  in  length,  the  engine  and 
the  monster  fans — all  under  Broadway,  and  "  nobody  a  bit  the 
wiser,"  one  might  say. 


From  the  New- York  Herald,  Feb.  27,  1870. 
"UNDER  BROADWAY." 

PROPOSED   UNDERGROUND   RAILROAD  A  FASHIONABLE  RECEPTION 

HELD    IN    THE     BOWELS    OF     THE    EARTH  THE    GREAT  BORE 

EXPLORED. 

''Up  Broadway"  and  u  Down  BroadAvay  "  are  familiar  routes, 
familiar  not  only  to  Americans  residing  in  New- York,  but  by 
description  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  world.  "  Under  Broad- 
way" for  294  feet,  right  away,  in  a  thoroughfare  well  lighted,  in 
a  scrupulously  clean  avenue,  is  not  quite  so  familiar.  Yesterday, 
hundreds  of  our  citizens,  including  State  officers,  members  of  the 
Legislature,  city  officials,  and  members  of  the  press,  walked 
along  a  part  of  Broadway  they  never  were  in  before,  and  more 
enjoyable  than  if  they  had  been  on  the  sidewalk  of  the  icell-known 
thoroughfare  of  the  Empire  City,  instead  of  21  feet  below  it. 

An  engraved  invitation  note  asked  those  who  had  the  good 
fortune  to  receive  it  to  attend  an  "  Under  Broadway  Reception," 
at  the  office  of  the  "  Beach  Pneumatic  Transit  Company,"  260 
Broadway,  from  two  to  six  o'clock  yesterday. 

Descending  an  ordinary  basement  "  dive,"  under  Devlin's  cloth- 
ing store,  the  visitors  found  themselves  in  a  comfortable  office, 
and  a  few  steps  lower  there  teas  a  kind  of  Aladdin 's  cave  opened 
to  view,  in  ichich  there  was  more  to  be  seen  than  the  eye  could 
take  in  at  once,  and  therefore  we  must  ask  the  reader's  attention 
to  a  few  particulars. 

First  of  all,  let  us  explain  the  reason  why  this  descent  was 


17 


made  into  the  bowels  of  Broadway,  and  why  all  these  important 
representatives  of  the  public  had  been  asked  to  come  and  gaze 
and  wonder.  Legislative  power  has  been  obtained  to  construct 
a  pneumatic  tube- way  from  Warren  street  to  Cedar  street,  for 
the  purpose  of  "  blowing*'  small  and  large  parcels — indeed,  all 
kinds  of  "  express  business" — between  these  two  localities.  The 
promoters  had  not  proceeded  far  with  their  work  before  they  dis- 
covered that  it  would  be  very  little  more  expense  to  construct  an 
underground  railroad  for  the  "  blowing1''  of  passengers  as  well  as 
freight.  Acting  upon  this  hint,  they  have  applied  to  the  Legis- 
lature for  power  to  construct  this  underground  railroad  /  and  if 
the  calm,  settled,  and  earnest  approval  of  their  plan  by  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  scientific  and  executive  ability  of  the  city  be  an 
earnest  of  their  success,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  obtain  the  sanction 
of  the  Legislature  to  their  bill  Virtually,  therefore,  yesterday's 
reception  was  the  opening-day  of  the  first  underground  railway 
in  America. 

THE    TUNNEL    AND    THE  BORE. 

The  length  of  the  tunnel  already  open  is  294  feet  ;  the  iron  por- 
tion of  it  is  57  feet;  the  brick,  237  feet.  It  is  whitewashed  and 
lighted  with  gas,  has  telegraphic  wires  running  alongside  the  wall, 
is  about  12  feet  high,  and  formed  a  very  pleasant  promenade. 
The  roar  of  the  Broadway  traffic  was  plainly  heard  overhead,  and, 
until  the  ear  got  familiar  with  it,  sounded  very  strangely.  This 
294  feet  takes  the  tunnel  to  Murray  street,  on  the  south  side, 
nearly  flush  to  the  post-office  fence. 

The  visitor  to  the  tunnel  is  shown  very  clearly  how  this  tunnel 
has  been  made,  and  how  it  is  that  the  work  has  been  carried  on 
in  a  mole-like  manner  without  attracting  the  observation  of  the 
Broadway  pedestrians,  and  without  interfering  in  any  degree 
with  the  traffic.  Havino;  first  obtained  an  entrance  from  the  sur- 
face  in  Warren  street,  and  gone  deep  enough  to  be  out  of  the  way 
of  sewers,  gas  and  water-pipes,  a  cylinder  was  introduced,  which 
in  shape  resembled  a  barrel  with  the  ends  out,  forced  by  18  hydrau- 
lic rams.  This  forces  itself  through  the  earth,  and  to  moderate 
the  fall  of  the  earth,  a  number  of  wooden  shelves  are  placed 
within  the  cylinder  for  the  earth  to  drop  through;  and  as  the 


18 


earth  deposits  itself,  it  is  shoveled  up  and  carted  away.  In  the 
course  of  the  travels  of  this  cylinder,  it  came  upon  the  remains  of 
an  old  stone  building,  vvhicli  was  believed  to  be  an  old  Dutch 
powder-magazine.  The  stones  were  not  too  large  to  come  through 
the  shelves,  and  they  were  carted  away  with  the  earth.  The 
cylinder  has  a  projection  in  the  front  of  it  of  steel,  both  broad  and 
sharp,  that  finds  no  difficulty  in  cutting  its  way  along.  In  the 
rear  of  it,  there  is  a  thin  piece  of  sheet-iron,  16  inches  broad, 
upon  which  the  brick-work  of  the  tunnel  is  built  up ;  and  when 
finished,  the  cylinder  moves  on  again  its  earthy  way,  to  have  16 
more  inches  of  brick-work  added. 


From  the  New- York  Times,  Feb.  27,  1870. 
THE  BROADWAY  TUNNEL. 

OPENING   THE    BORE    TO    PUBLIC    INSPECTION  —  SUCCESS    OF  THE 
UNDERTAKING  GREAT  CROWD  OF  VISITORS. 

Certainly  the  most  novel,  if  not  the  most  successful,  enter- 
prise that  New- York  has  seen  for  many  a  clay  is  the  Pneumatic 
Tunnel  under  Broadway.  A  myth  or  a  humbug  it  has  hitherto 
been  called  by  every  body  who  has  been  excluded  from  its  inte- 
rior;  but  hereafter  the  incredulous  public  can  have  the  opportu- 
nity of  examining  and  judging  of  its  merits.  Yesterday  the  tunnel 
was  thrown  open  to  the  inspection  of  visitors  for  the  first  time,  and 
it  must  be  said  that  every  one  of  them  came  away  surprised  and 
gratified.  Such  as  expected  to  find  a  dismal  and  cavernous  re- 
treat under  Broadway,  opened  their  eyes  at  the  elegant  reception- 
room,  the  light,  airy  tunnel,  and  the  general  appearance  of  taste 
and  comfort  in  all  the  apartments  ;  and  those  toho  entered  to  pick 
out  some  scientific  flaw  in  the  project,  were  silenced  by  the  com- 
pleteness of  the  machinery,  the  solidity  of  the  vjork,  and  the  safety 
of  the  running  apparatus. 

The  entrance  to  this  tunnel  is  on  Broadway  at  the  corner  of 
Warren  street.  At  the  bottom  of  the  steps  is  the  entrance  to  an 
office,  and  the  apartment  of  the  u  rotary  blower,"  a  huge  paddle- 
box-like  affair,  neatly  frescoed  on  the  outside.  To  the  right  a 
door  leads  into  a  long  hall,  down  a  few  more  steps,  and  directly 


19 


under  the  Warren  street  sidewalk,  which  is  the  "depot"  of  the 
establishment,  and  is  handsomely  fitted  up  with  a  fountain, 
paintings,  and  seats.  This  hall  opens  toward  Broadway  to  the 
tunnel,  at  the  entrance  of  which  stands  a  car  ready  for  passen- 
gers. Adjoining  the  depot  is  the  machinery  for  pumping  the  air 
in  and  out  of  the  tube,  which  is  worthy  of  an  examination.  The 
tunnel-way  itself,  how  it  looks,  how  it  is  bored  out,  has  been  so  of- 
ten described  in  the  various  daily  journals  that  only  a  brief  account 
of  it  need  be  given  here.  The  tube  is  8  feet  in  diameter,  arched 
all  the  way  round  with  brick  painted  white.  From  the  bottom 
of  it  to  the  surface  of  Broadway  is  21  feet,  and  it  is  therefore  be- 
low all  pipes  and  sewers.  After  curving  around  the  corner  of 
Warren  street,  the  tube  is  perfectly  straight.  On  the  bottom  is  a 
track  about  4  feet  wide.  The  car  which  runs  upon  this  is  about 
half  as  large  as  a  street-car,  cushioned,  lighted,  ventilated,  and 
elegant  in  all  its  appointments.  The  contrivance  that  bores  out 
the  tube  is  a  huge  iron  cylinder,  sharp  at  the  end  penetrating  the 
earth,  and  is  forced  along  by  hydraulic  pressure.  The  dirt  is 
then  shoveled  out.  So  far — the  tube  now  being  complete  120 
feet,  or  as  far  as  the  south  side  of  Murray  street — the  excavation 
has  been  through  sand  only,  and  not  a  difficult  matter.  -  Yester- 
day, the  gentlemanly  engineer  of  the  company  explained  the 
whole  construction  of  the  tunnel,  over  and  over  again,  to  the 
visitors  that  kept  coming  and  going. 

Such,  in  brief,  is  a  description  of  the  various  compartments  of 
the  mysterious  underground  Broadway  tunnel,  begun  but  a  few 
months  ago.  The  enterprise  is  controlled  by  the  "  Beach  Pneu- 
matic Transit  Company,"  who  propose  to  run  their  tunnels  in 
every  direction  eventually,  and  make  rapid  communication  be- 
tween distant  parts  of  the  city.  They  claim  that  their  cars 
can  run  one  mile  a  minute  with  perfect  safety  by  the  pneumatic 
process. 

The  opening  yesterday  afternoon  was  a  very  pleasant  "  occa- 
sion." It  is  was  intended  specially  for  dignitaries,  legislators, 
aldermen,  scientific  men,  and  members  of  the  press,  and  scores 
of  them  were  present.  Mr.  Beach  himself  was  conspicuous,  mak- 
ing his  visitors  explanations,  and  entertaining  them  like  princes. 
Judge  Daly,  members  of  the  American  Institute,  city  officials, 


20 


and  many  prominent  citizens  were  observed  among  those  who 
came.  In  the  "  depot,"  or  reception-room,  a  first-class  subterra- 
nean lunch  was  served  continuously  from  two  o'clock  until  six 
o'clock,  and  was  continuously  appreciated.  The  "  health"  of  the 
tunnel  was  not  forgotten.  At  nightfall,  the  unique  occasion  was 
over,  but  the  "  Transit  Company"  had  made  a  host  of  friends  and 
supporters. 


From  Harper's  Weekly,  March  12,'  1870. 

UNDER  BROADWAY. 

The  Pneumatic  Tunnel,  now  in  process  of  construction  under 
the  principal  thoroughfare  of  New-York,  commences  in  the  sub- 
basements  of  the  spacious  marble  building  of  Devlin  &  Co.,  cor- 
ner of  Broadway  and  Warren  street,  and  extends,  at  present,  to 
a  point  a  little  below  Murray  street.  One  of  our  illustrations  on 
this  page  gives  an  interior  view  of  the  tunnel,  looking  south  from 
near  the  entrance.'  It  is  8  feet  in  diameter,  built  of  solid  mason rv, 
is  dry  and  clean,  painted  white,  and  lighted  with  gas.  The  tun- 
nel passes  under  all  the  gas  and  water-pipes  and  sewers  ;  but, 
though  so  far  below  the  surface  of  the  street,  the  rumbling  of 
wheels  and  the  tramp  of  horses  overhead  can  be  distinctly  heard 
by  one  standing  within  it. 

The  tunnel  is  constructed  by  means  of  a  shield,  consisting  of  a 
strong  cylinder,  something  like  a  barrel  with  both  heads  taken  out. 
It  is  pushed  forward  by  18  powerful  hydraulic  rams,  and  makes  a 
bore  of  its  own  diameter  through  the  sand.  The  loosened  sand,  as 
it  falls  through  the  rear  end  of  the  cylinder,  is  carried  back  through 
the  tunnel  in  cars,  and  delivered  upon  an  elevator  on  Warren 
street,  where  it  is  raised  to  the  pavement  and  carted  away.  As 
fast  as  the  cylinder  advances,  the  tunnel  is  arched  with  masonry. 
By  means  of  this  machine,  which  was  designed  by  Mr.  A.  E. 
Beach,  the  tunnel  is  pushed  forward  without  any  interruption  to 
the  business  of  Broadway. 

Another  of  our  illustrations  shows  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  and 
a  passenger-car,  as  seen  from  the  station,  which  is  a  nicely-finished 
underground  apartment  120  feet  in  length,  lighted  from  the  War- 
ren street  sidewalk.    Another  illustration  shows  the  interior  of 


21 


the  passenger-car,  which  carries  18  passengers,  has  very  com- 
fortable seats,  and  is  lighted  with  oxyhydrogen  gas.  The  cars  are 


BROADWAY  UNDERGROUND  RAILWAY— THE  EXPERIMENTAL  SECTION. 


22 


to  be  propelled  by  the  atmospheric  system,  consisting  in  driving 
through  the  tunnel  a  strong  blast  of  air,  which  presses  against 
the  rear  of  the  car  and  carries  it  along  like  a  sail-boat  before  the 
wind.  This  air-current  of  course  secures  perfect  ventilation 
within  the  car.  The  air  is  driven  into  the  tunnel  by  means  of  an 
immense  blowing-engine  operated  by  steam.  Mr.  Joseph  Dixon, 
long  known  for  his  efforts  to  establish  the  underground  railway, 
is  the  superintendent  of  the  work. 

As  soon  as  the  necessary  authority  can  be  obtained  from  the 
Legislature,  it  is  the  intention  of  the  company  to  proceed  to  con- 
struct a  first-class  underground  railway,  with  large  cars,  to  run 
from  South-Ferry  under  Broadway  to  Central  Park,  and  above 
that  point ;  together  with  a  Fourth  Avenue  branch  to  Harlem 
River.  They  will  be  able,  when  their  arrangements  are  complete, 
to  transport  more  than  20,000  passengers  per  hour  each  way. 



From  the  New- York  Post,  Feb.  26,  1870. 

THE  PNEUMATIC  TUBE. 

A  RECEPTION  UNDER  BROADWAY. 

• 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  New-York  a  reception  with 
all  the  accompaniments  of  furnished  saloons,  champagne,  and 
salads,  was  held  under  Broadway  this  afternoon. 

The  following  invitation  was  issued  a  few  days  ago  : 

"  UNDER  BROADWAY  RECEPTION. 

"  To  State  Officers,  Members  of  the  Legislature,  City  Officials,  and  Members  of 
the  Press  : 

"  You  are  respectfully  invited  to  be  present  on  Saturday,  February  26th, 
1870,  from  two  to  six  o'cloek  p.m.,  at  the  office  of  the  Beach  Pneumatic  Tran- 
sit Company,  260  Broadway,  corner  of  Warren  street. 

"  Joseph  Dixon,  Secretary.  A.  E.  Beach,  President." 

Owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  we  are  able  to  give  but  a 
general  outline  of  the  enterprise. 

On  descending  the  steps  at  the  corner  of  Warren  street  and 
Broadway,  the  visitor  finds  himself  in  a  neatly  oil-clothed  room, 
on  the  left  of  which  appears  the  top  of  the  rotary  blower  neatly 


23 


painted.  Advancing  a  few  steps,  the  visitor  turns  to  the  right 
and  descends  three  more  steps,  when  he  finds  himself  in  a  hand- 
some and  brilliantly-lighted  saloon.  In  the  centre  is  a  fountain 
with  jetting  water  and  gold-fishes  swimming  in  the  basin.  The 
ceilings  and  side  walls  are  hard-finished,  and  with  neat  striping 
about  the  gas-brackets,  present  an  attractive  appearance.  The 
floor  is  covered  by  oil-cloth,  and  the  windows  are  hung  with 
damask  curtains  and  cornices.  The  surbase  is  of  alternate 
stripes  of  walnut  and  white-pine,  and  about  the  room  are  arrang- 
ed settees  and  easy-chairs.  A  piano  also  adds  to  the  attractive- 
ness of  the  apartment. 

Having  reached  this  floor,  the  guest  turns  toward  the  City  Hall 
Park,  and  descending  another  flight  of  steps,  finds  himself  at  the 
entrance  of  the  tube,  in  full  view  of  the  vast  machinery  to  be 
used  for  propelling  the  cars. 

The  top  of  the  tunnel  is  surmounted  by  a  keystone  of  pressed 
brick,  over  which  are  the  letters  in  German  text,  "  Pneumatic 
(1870)  Transit,"  and  encircling  this  is  a  row  of  gas-jets,  covered 
by  alternate  globes  of  red,  white,  and  blue.  At  either  side,  on  a 
pedestal,  are  bronze  figures  upholding  a  cluster  of  gas-lights. 
,  The  next  feature  which  strikes  the  spectator  is  the  graceful  curve 
of  the  tube  into  Broadway.  The  curved  arch  is  supported  by 
iron  plates,  and  after  a  straight  line  is  reached,  the  tunnel  is  con- 
tinued down  Broadway  by  arches  of  brick.  The  interior  is  paint- 
ed white,  and  the  entire  length  is  lighted  by  gas.  The  track  is 
supported  by  a  bracing  of  hard  wood. 

The  present  length  of  the  tunnel  is  294  feet  and  6  inches,  and 
fifty-eight  days  and  ten  hours  were  consumed  in  constructing  it. 
The  track  is  21  feet  under  the  surface  of  Broadway,  and  the  only 
circumstance  which  would  indicate  that  the  visitor  is  under  a 
busy  thoroughfare  is  the  constant  rumbling  of  vehicles  overhead. 
The  car  is  built  to  conform  to  the  shape  of  the  tunnel,  being 
semicircular  in  form.  It  has  comfortable  accommodation  for  20 
persons.  The  machinery  is  of  immense  power,  and  of  very  fine 
workmanship. 

The  visitors  to-day  were  handsomely  entertained  by  the  of- 
ficers of  the  company. 


24 


From  the  Express,  Nov.  18.  1870. 

THAT  "BORE." 

By  this  system  of  traveling,  the  oars  are  impelled  by  com- 
pressed air  only.  The  air  is  nncontaminated  by  dust  or  gas, 
the  track  is  not  crushed  or  damaged  by  heavy  locomotives,  and 
all  the  discomforts  of  steam  travel  throuo-h  tunnels  are  eliminated. 

CD 


From  the  New-York  Herald,  Dec.  2,  1870. 
SECRETARY  ROBESON  UNDER  GROUND. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  accompanied  by  Admiral  Smith 
and  a  distinguished  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  visited  the 
Broadway  Underground  Railway  yesterday  morning,  and  rode 
back  and  forth  under  Broadway  by  atmospheric  pressure.  The 
secretary  was  much  gratified  with  the  success  of  this  simple  method 
of  locomotion,  examined  every  part  of  the  novel  machinery  with 
great  interest,  and  expressed  the  hope  that  the  system  would  soon 
be  extended  throughout  the  city. 

After  the  riding,  he  visited  the  air-chamber  of  the  great  blow- 
ing-machine and  enjoyed  personal  experience  of  the  mechanical 
hurricane  which  sweeps  under  Broadway  and  gives  motion  to 
the  car. 

The  Pneumatic  Postal  Dispatch  was  then  set  in  operation,  and 
the  secretary  witnessed  the  transmission  of  a  large  mail  of  letters 
and  newspapers,  at  a  velocity  of  sixty-three  miles  an  hour, 
through  the  atmospheric  pipes.  The  velocity  is  so  great  that  the 
letters  look  like  mere  specks  as  they  issue  from  the  air-tube  into 
the  receiving-box,  and  it  is  only  when  the  hopper  at  the  bot- 
tom is  opened  and  the  letters  drop  out,  that  the  fact  of  such  rapid 
transit  is  realized. 

These  tubes,  it  will  be  remembered,  are  to  be  placed  under  the 
streets  in  connection  with  the  lamp-post  letter-boxes,  the  ar- 
rangement being  such  that  all  letters  when  deposited  in  the 
boxes  will  slide  down  into  the  tubes  and  be  instantly  carried  for- 
ward by  the  air-current  to  the  post-office  or  sub-post-office.  This 
will  effect  a  great  saving  of  time  in  the  collection  and  delivery  of 
city  letters. 


THE 


3J^utual]3enefit  pavings  2an^T 


"\  166  Nassau  Street, 


SUN  BUILDING, 
Opposite  the  City  Hull,  New- York. 


Six  per  Cent  Interest  Allowecl, 


Commencing  on  the  First  of  every 
Month,  with  participation  in  the 
profits  on  the  Mutual  plan. 

ON  SPECIAL  DEPOSITS 


Interest  is  paid  on  daily  balances, 
and  checks  paid  at  sight. 


Persons  residing  in  the  country  can  send  deposits  by  express,  draft, 
money  order,  or  registered  letter,  and  a  book  will  be  sent  as  requested.  One 
Dollar  will  commence  an  account.    Send  for  a  Circular. 


OFFICERS. 
CHARLES  K.  GRAHAM,  President. 


A.  L.  PRITCHARD 
RICHARD  VOSE 

G.  H.  BENEDICT,  Secretary. 
THEO.  W.  MORRIS,  Chairman  Exec.  Com. 

H.  EDWIN  TREMAIN,  Counsel. 


Vice-Presidents. 


TRUSTEES. 

JAMES  TURNER,  Turner  Bros.,  Bankers,  corner  Pine  and  Nassau  Streets. 

SILAS  C.  HAY,  Banker  and  Broker,  80  Broadway  and  7  New  Street. 

A.  L.  PRITCHARD,  Sec.  and  Treas.  Chicago  and  Northwestern  R.  R.  Co.,  52  Wall  Street. 

RICHARD  VOSE,  Vose,  Dirfsmore  &  Co.,  Car-Spring  Manufacturers,  No.  1  Barclay  St. 

THEO.  W.  MORRIS,  D.  S.  Schanck  &  Sons,  Glass  Importers,  27  Chambers  Street. 

MARTIN  B.  BROWN,  M.  B.  Brown  &  Co.,  Printers,  201  and  203  William  Street. 

CHARLES  K.  GRAHAM,  Civil  Engineer  and  City  Surveyor,  119  Broadway. 

GEORGE  W.  WHITE,  Firm  of  Charles  White  &  Co.,  foot  of  West  40th  Street. 

NOAH  A.  CHILDS,  Water  Purv  eyor.  Department  of  Public  Works,  235  Broadway. 

LORING  IRGERSOLL,  Ingersoll,  Watson  &  Co.,  Chair  Manufacturers,  71  Bowery. 

JOSEPH  DIXON.  Secretary  Beach  Pneumatic  Transit  Co.,  Broadway,  corner  Warren  St. 

J.  P.  DINSMORE,  Manufacturer  and  Proprietor  Medicines  and  Carter's  Ink,  36  Dey  Street, 

H.  EDWIN  TREMAIN,  Tremain  &  Tyler,  Attorneys-at-Law,  167  Broadway. 

G.  H.  BENEDICT,  Secretary,  166  Nassau  Street.   At  the  Bank  from  10  a.m.  to  3  p.m.,  daily. 

EVERETT  H.  KIMBARK,  M.D.   Residence,  313  East  19th  Street. 

JAMES  O.  WEST,  West,  Bradley  &  Gary  Manufacturing  Co.,  364  Broadway  and  233  West 
29th  Street. 

COURTLAN  DT  PALMER.  Office,  No.  858  Broadway  ;  Residence,  247  Madison  Avenue. 


